e6850 - good overclocker ?

[prof.caos]

ive been wanting a q6600 but saw that the e6850 was beating it
in most benchmarks .. anyone have one of these and tell me how it works ?

[b_c]

Most current software isn't written to run on quad cores (heck, even dual). The 6850 runs at a higher clock speed, and therefore it wins in benchmarks. You can get both clocked pretty close to each other, but with twice the transistors, you have about twice the heat output.
If you will be water cooling, you can get best long term results with the quad core. For air cooling, the dual core will be best for now.

[sbrehm72255]

The E6850 can clock much higher than the quads, E6850's have been hitting at or near 4 GHz on high-end air where Quads, (even the new G0 Steppings) are hitting maybe 3.2 on air, maybe a bit higher if you really push them temp wise.

If you want a Quad, wiat till this fall when the new 45nm chips are released, they'll be faster and run cooler than the present generation.